Algae

[Andrewcook]

Why does algae appears on the Broads? Is it to do with agriculture fertilisers causing it? When it drains off the fields in to the water on the Broads . As to Fishing we have to take great care with our hands as to catching fish

 

[MauriceMynah]

Andrew, Get a jamjar of tap water and leave it on the windowsill in the sunshine. After a while it will go green (like Nyx) no fertiliser there! Don't knock it, it's where and what we evolved from (some evolved more than others).

Only a few algaes are harmful.

Edited to add that the algae which evolved into alligators is particularly harmful to fishermen.

[Smoggy]

It's what provides lots of our oxygen and props up the foodchain, be greatful for it.

Keeps Nyx out of sight too.

[ChrisB]

I think Andrew is alluding to the Blue Green variety, which is not of a fiendly persuasion.

[MauriceMynah]

10 hours ago, ChrisB said:

I think Andrew is alluding to the Blue Green variety, which is not of a fiendly persuasion.

Agreed, and if so I don't think there is any particular link between that and farming. 

[grendel]

probably arrived trying to find Biggles- oops sorry thats Algy

[Malanka]

Blue Green Algae of the obnoxious variety aren’t actually algae at all they are bacteria, Cyanobacteria to be pedantic. They grow when Nitrogen and Phosphates are in abundance, it’s warm sunny and the water isn’t mixing.

they also grow when the ratio of Nitrates to Phosphates changes, as with all bacteria they are mostly always there just waiting, patient little devils. 
 

Funnily enough excessive use of nitrates and Phosphates causes Eutrophication ( did so in the 70s in Scandinavia) which is quite the opposite of a bloom as everything dies. Brits got blamed ( who remembers the acid rain “scandal”) for air pollution until some useful guy did some proper science and found the real cause. Still it doesn’t and didn’t stop the blame game as you still find folks believing it now almost 50 years after the truth was outed.

Only use a soft wet cloth to handle the fish and no algae issues. 
 

M